I grew up watching the Islanders, and then the Oilers, dominate the NHL. For me, these two organizations will always be connected, mainly due to their past greatness, but also because they've both struggled to gain respectability for the past two decades.

The Islanders have made the playoffs six times in the last 20 years, but they haven't won a playoff series since 1993. The Oilers have made the post-season seven times in the last 20 seasons, and they've won five series, three of them in 2006. The past two decades haven't been pretty for two of the most storied franchises in NHL history, and both of them are trying to regain respectability.

The Islanders and Oilers have stockpiled a plethora of high first round picks due to their losing, but neither franchise has found a way to turn those picks into consistent victories.

Each team has traded away a top pick, Paajarvi for David Perron, Niederreiter for Cal Clutterbuck and the Islanders made the playoffs four years after taking Tavares first overall. They are making more progress than the Oilers, and if the Oilers are going to match the Islanders success after having the 1st overall pick, they need to make the postseason this year. If they plan on doing that, they must start picking up some wins in October.

The Islanders made the playoffs last season, ending a five-year drought, and there is lots of optimism surrounding the team led by Tavares. Over the past three seasons, including the start of this season, Tavares has been the 10th most productive player in the NHL racking up 202 points in 215 games.

Notice how only four of the top-ten have been legitimate point-per-game players. It is hard to average a ppg if you are playing the majority of games, so keep that in mind when projecting how many points the top Oilers skaters will produce.

The Islanders have built a decent team.

Their top-six is a mixture of their top picks, Tavares, Okposo and Bailey, Frans Nielsen (drafted 3rd round, 2002) who has developed into one of the best two-way centres in the game, a smart waiver pick up of Michael Grabner (14th overall, 2006 by Canucks) and one of the best free agent signings of the past five years, Matt Moulson.

The Islanders signed Moulson to a one-year, two-way deal at the start of the 2009 season for $575,000. Moulson scored 30 goals that year, and then he signed another one-year deal for $2.4 million and produced 31 goals. He is now in the final year of a three-year deal for $3.1 million/year.

They aren't household names, but they have a mixture of skill, size and toughness.

The Islanders, similar to the Oilers, don't have a dominant defenceman.

Travis Hamonic is a steady physical defender, with limited offence, who was invited to Team Canada's orientation camp. He plays 24 minutes a night, and faces most of the top lines.

Andrew MacDonald plays 25 minutes a night, and most people likely have never heard of him. He was a 6th round pick in 2006, and he plays with Hamonic. He's a decent puck mover, and he played more minutes than Mark Streit last season.

Lubomir Visnovsky is still serviceable at 37 years of age and quarterbacks their powerplay.

Brian Strait and Thomas Hickey, former picks for the Penguins and Kings, are their #4 and #5 defenders while Matt Carkner and Matt Donovan are sharing the #6 slot. Carkner plays when the want a physical presence, while Donovan is used for his offensive capabilities.

Evgeni Nabokov is off to a solid start with a 2.29 GAA and .924 SV%, and he'll start his 6th game tonight.

The Islanders are more competitive than people think, and this will be another difficult game for the Oilers.

All eyes will be on Devan Dubnyk. It is unlikely he will continue to struggle as much as he has, 5.43GAA and 0.829 SV%, in his first four games. I'd be surprised if he suddenly was lights out, but you don't go from a .920 SV%, to a 0.829% in one off-season.

Even Jim Carey didn't see his SV% dip 91 points in one season. Carey won the Calder with a 0.913 SV% in 1995, then he dropped to 0.906 in 1996, 0.888 in 1997, 0.893 in 1998, before his final four games in 1999 with the Blues produced a gaudy .829 SV%.

No one can deny Dubnyk is struggling, but it is only four games, and way too early to suggest he find his form from last season.

"He is a 6'6" goalie, but he looks small in the net. He is playing too deep in his net. When he was locked in last year, he was limiting the goals through the body and his knees, when he went down, were close to the top of the crease. When a goalie lacks confidence they play deeper in their net. To me it is a combination of confidence (lack of) and positioning. He needs to get back to looking 6'6" in goal and stay at the top of the crease.

QUICK HITS...

The Oilers have to be more aggressive on their PK. Their PK vs. the Capitals was the most passive penalty kill I've seen in a long time. They can't allow Tavares, Visnovsky and company to set up so easily. They need to pressure the puck and not give the Islanders time to make plays.

The Oilers have given up a PP goal in all seven games, allowing 8 goals on 24 attempts for a putrid 66.7%. In 2009 they allowed a PP goal in eight straight games from February 28th, 2009 to March 17th, 2009, 11 goals on 27 chances. They had another eight-game skid, January 16th to February 04th, 2010 when they allowed 10 goals on 30 attempts. The Oilers finished 27th in PK in 2009 and 29th in 2011. The Oilers have to rectify their PK woes.

The Islanders have four forwards averaging a PPG thus far. Tavares, Nielsen and Grabner have seven points in six games, while Bailey has six in six. Twenty-one of their combined 27 points have come at ES.

Sam Gagner told me he was hoping to play before the end of the month. He had surgery on September 24th and was told he'd be out six to eight weeks. Next Tuesday is four weeks since surgery, and he was confident he'd be back earlier than six weeks. Next Tuesday might be a bit early, but if gets clearance from the doctor, he sees him in the next few days, to begin contact drills, Gagner could be back in the lineup when the Oilers return home on October 24th.

J.Schultz only has 11 shots, while Petry and Belov have 7 each. The Oiler bluelines have to get more shots on goal. Andrew Ference has 14 and he plays less ES and PP time than all three of them.

The Oilers need to get more traffic to the net, especially on the powerplay. To often J.Schultz or Belov have a good shooting lane, but no one is in front of the net, so they aren't shooting. The Oilers need to funnel more bodies to the net, and the D-men need to put the puck on goal more frequently.

Ryan Miller is never coming to Edmonton. Never. Stop talking about it. It won't happen. Also if, big if, the Oilers ever trade Yakupov it will be for a top-pairing D-man, not a 33 year-old goalie. If you move Yakupov you need to get a player back who can contribute for at least the next 5-6 years, at least. Any return/rumour that involves something less is purely fabricated.

I was happy to be asked to take part in SO Dance. I'm teamed up with Special Olympian, Jenny Murray, and we will perform a Swing dance routine tonight. I don't have to wear a tight shirt like Struds, but I'm hoping to have as good of moves as Struddy. Our goal was to raise $1,500. We are at $1,405. If any of you generous souls would like to help us raise the final $95 that would be great. You can donate here.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN?

GAME DAY PREDICTION: It is hard to predict an Oiler victory, even though they played fairly well in Pittsburgh. They will get closer to a W but come up short losing 4-3 in a SO.

OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: Gene Principe will interview Doug Weight at some point during the broadcast. The former Oiler captain is a good quote and current assistant coach and assistant GM of the Islanders. He'll rave about his time in Edmonton, and claim the Islanders have a great young core. Also, Perron will score. He has 3 goals in 4 career games vs. the Islanders.

NOT-SO-OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: Nick Schultz picks up an assist on the first Oiler goal, leaving Yakupov and Brown as the only skaters without a point**. Yakupov, well aware that he has zeros across the board this year, gives himself a pep talk during the first intermission and plays his best period of the season in the 2nd, by scoring a goal and adding an assist. After the game he says this about cracking his goose eggs before Brown. "Brownie is a great teammate, but I didn't want to listen to Plums talk about everyone on the team having more points than me. Our next game is on CBC and I know he'd bring it up."

** Ryan Jones doesn't have a point, but he's only played one game, so I didn't include him.**

One of Canada's most versatile sports personalities. Jason hosts The Jason Gregor Show, weekdays from 2 to 6 p.m., on TSN 1260, and he writes a column every Monday in the Edmonton Journal. You can follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/JasonGregor

Devan doesn't have the quickness/mobility to play at the top of the crease. That's why he's stuck deep in his net all the time. Islanders by a field goal. Tuesday was just a scrimmage/night off for the Penguins, rather than the Oilers playing well.

Dubnyk is not the only issue. He is one player on a team of 20 which plays a game any given night. He's the scapegoat. Weak goals, "Yes", bad goalie, "no". Multiple giveaways every game leaving goalies out to dry, definitely yes. There has been to much drama around this team. MacTavish has promised something months ago and hasn't delivered. If he didn't say "Bold moves", we wouldn't expect it.

Ya know those commercials to donate money for developing 3rd world countries? I feel like watching both of these organizations is the same as those commercials - promising so much hope but, at the end of the day everybody is still crapping in a bucket...

3 goals by the Islanders on players wide open in between the circles 10-15 feet away. D-zone coverage definitely needs some work!

~Dubnyk's save percentage is below .900 and the team is 1-5-1. The Oil should trade every piece from their AHL/Junior depth, Yak, Eberle, Dubnyk (and buyout Hemsky to make cap space) for immediate help. While they're at it, they should fire the new coach and his arrogant haircut. Rabble, rabble, rabble ~

But seriously... I agree. I believe Dubnyk will start looking a lot better once he gets his mojo back and the team improves the PK/blown defensive assignments.

This is everything that is wrong with Oiler fans.Arco has 7 points in 8 games. So what? He brings nothing except points same as Gagner.It takes complete players to win in the NHL. Something the Oilers are sorely lacking.Don't get me started on the goaltending

Ya know those commercials to donate money for developing 3rd world countries? I feel like watching both of these organizations is the same as those commercials - promising so much hope but, at the end of the day everybody is still crapping in a bucket...

Wow - another no hitter ? Did anyone hit ? what is with you guys.
Yes, some good players on this team, but far from a team.

Eakins - you are out of your league, i am sorry. You have as much to learn
as Yakapov so perhaps sit yourself for a game or two and let Woody run the bench. You are lost sir, and its so obvious. Bucky ! Smith ! Please go away, you guys know squat.

C'mon guys, replacing Dubnyk after four games is truly impatient, but lets not be stupid. All the teams out there know that the Oilers are looking for a goalie so the price is not going to be cheap, just accept that. Give Dudnyk another four games, hopefully work his way back into the right range of save percentage and call off the lynch mob.

U mention neither franchise has been able to turn their high picks into wins but yet I'm pretty sure I remember seeing the islanders in the playoffs last yr and if it weren't for vokoun, they gave their fan base the excitement of potentially upsetting the highly favoured pens!! With the exception of 2008 oilers have have had higher picks every year and still have 1 of the worst records. Time to get rid of upper management and get someone who truly cares about the fan base because this is just getting ridiculous

Wow just pathetic, couldn't break out of the zone the entire third period. I haven't seen the captain do one thing to fire this team up. The entire defense looks awful, the forwards look frantic, they cannot even cycle the puck for a moment, puck possession is just handed over every time. I rarely post but I don't see one positive in this game other than our goalie letting in less then 4 goals

Kevin Lowe must Go. Only full accountability right to the top will rid this franchise of their losing culture. Take his 6 rings with him! Embarrassed yet again to be an Oilers fan. It's getting old....

In Ottawa, afternoon game. Guaranteed loss, the oil NEVER win matinees. In Montreal next, after the kids party it up at local strip clubs, guaranteed loss. First game back home after a long roadie the oil NEVER win. Back on the road, 2 more losses in Phoenix and LA. Back home for losses to Leafs and Wings. 1 win in the first 14 games.

Now for the bright side. The oil got 1 point on the roadie, that's 1 more than I thought they would get. Also, as my Winnipeg relatives assure me, having a NHL team is always better than not having one. Thanks ever so much Mr. Katz.

NSOGDP - Hemsky will score shorthanded and assist on 3 goals tonight, giving him the points lead on his was to another 70 pt year. MacT will sign him for 3 more years at $3M per and the trade Hemsky crowd will fade away for ever.

Wow - another no hitter ? Did anyone hit ? what is with you guys.
Yes, some good players on this team, but far from a team.

Eakins - you are out of your league, i am sorry. You have as much to learn
as Yakapov so perhaps sit yourself for a game or two and let Woody run the bench. You are lost sir, and its so obvious. Bucky ! Smith ! Please go away, you guys know squat.

Done before Halloween never mind Christmas, whoda thunk that.

Go away Oilers and take the Eskimos with you.

We are again the laughing stock of the League. Pathetic.

September 18 2013, 09:01AM

Once again for the people that can't comprehend I said "UNLESS". I hope Eakins is the best coach in the history of the game and wins five Cups here. The team's recent record with coaches suggest otherwise. Every team sells hope this time of year.After the last seven years I will hold off on calling Eakins the second coming of Scotty Bowman.Until he does something like say win his first NHL game!

Agreed the PK needs to be much better, it was awful against WSH. If they don't tighten up and put a little pressure on the guy with the puck in their end, watch for a through the crease pass to Tavares for a one timer ala Ward against WSH or Malkin vs PIT.

What impact do you think shot blocking is having on these two goalies? It seems Eakins doesn't have his guys laying down or even dropping to a knee to block a shot. They still block shots but most are standing and create a screen. Could this be why Duby drops early to take away bottom of the net??

Its definately a new culture for Dubnyk, this and the slight changes to his pads / stick all must be playing a role.

"It is hard to predict an Oiler victory, even though they played fairly well in Pittsburgh. They will get closer to a W but come up short losing 4-3 in a SO. "

We have Eberle, Perron, RNH, Hemsky, Yakapov. Not sure about Gordon and Acrobello, and I think even J. Schultz had scored one in AHL. With so many shooters, and NYI just lost a SO to Buffalo, yet you still think we can't beat the NYI in a SO? Your predication is not only discouraging, it is depressing. I'll rather you predict us to lose in OT.

It seems appropriate to crib some immortal words from the great Winston Churchill (with some minor changes):

"We shall compete from end to end. We shall fight in the neutral zone and cause turnovers, we shall finish our checks, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the offensive zone, we shall defend our goal crease, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight for position in front of their goalie, we shall fight around the half boards, we shall fight on the open ice, and on special teams; we shall never surrender!"

In Ottawa, afternoon game. Guaranteed loss, the oil NEVER win matinees. In Montreal next, after the kids party it up at local strip clubs, guaranteed loss. First game back home after a long roadie the oil NEVER win. Back on the road, 2 more losses in Phoenix and LA. Back home for losses to Leafs and Wings. 1 win in the first 14 games.

Now for the bright side. The oil got 1 point on the roadie, that's 1 more than I thought they would get. Also, as my Winnipeg relatives assure me, having a NHL team is always better than not having one. Thanks ever so much Mr. Katz.

I'm really excited to watch this game tonight. It was fun to see the Islanders in the playoffs again last year, in part because the Islanders were in the same pickle as the Oil and it was refreshing to see at least one of them make it last year and have a pretty good series against the Pens.

Something I'd like to see a little more from this club is some on ice support for guys that are struggling. We all know who those players are. A few extra words of encouragement or making some adjustments on the ice to help out your teammates. It's not obvious to me that that is happening which means to me that it is not happening enough. Tell Dubnyk that he can square up on the shooter because you've got the pass covered. Simple little things.